US Ambassador Details Reasons for Rome Meeting Shift and Trump’s Interest in Lebanon

President Joseph Aoun met with the US Ambassador to Beirut, Michel Aoun, to discuss the official visit the president will undertake to the United States at the invitation of President Donald Trump, as well as the current situation in Lebanon and the region.

During their meeting, President Aoun emphasized the importance of consolidating the ceasefire in southern Lebanon and applying pressure on Israel to halt military operations and adhere to the framework agreed upon at the conclusion of the Lebanese-American-Israeli negotiations in Washington. He also stressed the need to stop the bombing, explosions, and land clearing carried out by Israeli forces in several towns and villages under occupation.

Following the meeting, Ambassador Michel Aoun stated that "the Lebanese president’s visit to Washington holds particular significance at this moment, reflecting President Trump’s keen interest in Lebanon and his efforts to achieve security, stability, and an end to the suffering of its people."

Addressing a question regarding the upcoming meeting scheduled for July 14 and 15 in Rome, the ambassador explained that the relocation of the meeting involving Lebanese, American, and Israeli delegations to the Italian capital was due solely to technical reasons related to facilitating travel for ambassadors and delegation members. He noted that the Rome meeting has an organizational and executive nature concerning the framework agreement, particularly regarding the formation of specialized working groups responsible for implementing the arrangements agreed upon in Washington, which may require legal or technical experts depending on the issues discussed.

Ambassador Michel Aoun affirmed that the proceedings in Rome will complete what was agreed in Washington, adding that several meetings will be held in Rome or other locations to follow up on implementation according to the phases to be agreed upon.

Regarding the timeline for commencing work in the pilot areas identified during the Washington negotiations, the ambassador indicated that preparations are underway to implement the agreed measures concerning these areas. He added that a US military delegation will arrive in Beirut within days to coordinate and establish the mechanism for field implementation, emphasizing the necessity of avoiding any security vacuum following the Israeli withdrawal from the designated area. The start date for on-the-ground implementation will be determined based on the outcomes of these coordination meetings.